Staff photo by Fritz Busch 'Red The Flag Guy' Kilmer of Madelia received the New Ulm Chapter 15 Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Volunteer of the Year Certificate at the Sleepy Eye Event Center Saturday. Kilmer has been repairing U.S. flags for more than 60 years at no charge.

SLEEPY EYE — A Madelia man who learned to sew as a small child from his mother, received an American Legion Certificate of Appreciation at the New Ulm Chapter 15 DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Holiday Party at the Sleepy Eye Event Center Saturday.

A U.S. Navy veteran in his late 80s who still owns a Madelia upholstery shop, “Red The Flag Guy” Kilmer talked humbly about his volunteer service of repairing flags for more than 60 years.

“It’s been an honor to do this,” said Kilmer. “With flags as big as the one at Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery in New Ulm and just east on Sleepy Eye, they really take a beating. They have to be repaired often.”

“We’re really glad he joined our DAV chapter. He’s a real asset for us,” said Chapter 15 DAV Chaplain Roy Janni of New Ulm.

The certificate from Remmele American Legion Post 7 in Sleepy Eye read “in recognition of outstanding service and assistance which contributed to the advancement of American Legion programs and activities dedicated to God and country.”

Sue Marti of New Ulm talked about the latest news of her uncle, Willibald C. Bianchi who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Conspicuous Gallantry.

My familly is working tirelessly to return Uncle Bill to New Ulm for a May 2, 2026 burial in New Ulm City Cemetery with full military honors. Bianchi was wounded four times in World War II, survived the 65-mile Bataan Death March and experienced captivity for three years and often aided others to ensure his men lived.

“He is still in a DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) lab in Omaha. Our family was notified in September that Bianchi was positively identified after DNA was provided by our cousin Scott Torpey and his mother Mary Louise Torpey,” said Marti.

Holiday program master of ceremonies and Brown County Veterans Service Greg Peterson talked about Paul Wojahn, 104-year-old Chapter 15 DAV Commander.

“He fell through ice while ice skating as a youngster but survived it. A U.S. Marine in some of the roughest fighting in World War II, Paul always wanted to be a bad aEs Marine,” said Peterson. “He just keeps going and going. He retired as a DNR officer in 1983.”

Wojahn said he’s thankful to be a part of very active chapter.

“This year, we helped sponsor a bus trip to the Fagen Fighters WWII Aviation Museum in Granite Falls,” he said. “I have been busy making celebrity appearances because they tell me I’m the oldest DAV Chapter Commander in the nation. I’m just happy to be on this side of the dirt. I d the best I can with what I have.”

Peterson said the DAV Chapter donated $2,000 to the Prairie Piecemakers Quilting Guild of the New Ulm area for making nearly 200 quilts for area veterans touched by war.

“When I learned the quilts they make cost about $180 each, I knew we had to make a donation. I challenge other organizations to match our donation,” said Peterson.

“It’s not work. It’s fun making quilts for veterans,” said Mary Ann Wolf of New Ulm.

Chapter 15 DAV milestone members include Gerald Piehl, 55 years. Fifty year pins go to Dale Tauer, Dean Gilman, Duane Lambrecht, Gordon Krause and Stephen Soukup. Laddie Carda and Wojahn will receive 45 year pins. Pins for 40 years go to Anthony Wurtzberger, Charles Herschman, Dennis Berg, Douglas Sondag, James Schaefer, John Ingebritson, Michael Larsen, Roy Janni and Wayne Pierson.